WEBVTT
FACING
GRANITE STATERS.
WE ARE LIVE WITH THE STORY.
REPORTER: THESE NEW OFFICERS
WITH BOTH LOCAL AND STATE POLICE
ARE ABOUT TO DEDICATE THEIR
LIVES TO PROTECTING OTHERS,
SOMETHING THEY SAY THEY WOULDN'T
HAVE ANY OTHER WAY DESPITE THE
DEMANDS AND THE DANGERS.
>> MICHAEL T. CREIGHT.
REPORTER: THEY ARE THE NEWEST
MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> 16 WEEKS, A LOT OF HARD WORK,
A LOT OF TIME, SACRIFICES FROM
MY FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES.
REPORTER: STEVEN WILL WORK ON
THE CONCORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND JOINS OTHERS TO PROTECT THE
BEGAN IT STATE.
>> THIS GROUP UNDERSTANDS WHAT
THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS AND THE
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE NEEDS.
REPORTER: THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH
A RIGOROUS TRAINING PROGRAM
SINCE AUGUST AND PART OF THE
171ST CLASS.
>> THEY HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC
JOB IN THEIR TRAINING AND HOPING
THEY GET OUT THERE AND MAKE AN
IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
REPORTER: THE YOUNGEST, JUST 21
YEARS OLD, THE OLDEST IN HER
LATE 40'S.
>> THEY SHARE THEIR MILITARY
EXPERIENCE, THOSE WHO WERE
OLDER, SHARED THEIR WISDOM AND
HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE.
THOSE YOUNG OFFICERS WHO HAVE A
LOT OF ENERGY, MOTIVATED
OFFICERS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A
LITTLE BIT OLDER.
REPORTER: THEY ARE STARTING
THEIR CAREER AT A CHALLENGING
TIME.
>> THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE SWORN
OFFICERS BOTH WITH THE STATE AND
LOCAL POLICE ARE GOING TO BE ON
THE FRONT LINES ON THE HEROIN
AND OPIOIDS CRISIS.
REPORTER: CHALLENGING TIME IN
THE COUNTRY WITH SEVERAL RECENT
HIGH PROFILE ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
>> THE ACADEMY TRAINS THEM TO BE
PREPARED FOR THESE TYPE OF
SITUATIONS.
WE STAY CURRENT AND AS TO THE
CURRENT TRENDS IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE JOINED
A FAMILY.
WE WON'T BE ALONE.
WE HAVE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
BEHIND US AND THESE 64 PEOPLE
WILL ALWAYS STAY CONNECTED AND
WILL HAVE EACH OTHER'S BACKS.
REPORTER: A STRONG GROUP OF MEN
AND WOMEN WHO WILL BE WORKING IN

Law-enforcement agencies across New Hampshire on Friday welcomed 64 newly certified officers to their staffs.

Members of the 171st police academy will now hit the streets to confront some of the most challenging issues facing Granite Staters.

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"(Graduating from the program required) 16 weeks, a lot of hard work, a lot of time, sacrifices from our families and our loved ones,” said Officer Stephen Hemming, who will now work on the Concord Police Department. He joins dozens of others in the fight to protect the Granite State.

“This group understands what our community needs and what the state of New Hampshire needs,” said Hemming.

The group has been through a rigorous training program since August.

“They have done a fantastic job in their training and now we are hoping they get out there and make an impact in their communities,” said Capt. Mark Bodanza, of the state’s police training academy.

The youngest new officer is 21, while the oldest is in the late 40s.

”Those that have been in the military shared their experience. Those that were a little bit older shared their wisdom. And the young officers motivated officers that may have been a little bit older,” said Bodanza.

The group is starting their law-enforcement careers at a challenging time in the state.

“These men and women, the newly sworn-in officers both with the state police and local police, are going to be right on the front lines of the heroin and opioid crisis and all of the efforts we make to keep the community safe,” said Gov. Maggie Hassan.

It’s also a challenging time in the country, with several recent high profile acts of violence.

“The academy has trained them to be prepared for these situations. We stay current, from an academy standpoint, to stay current with the trends in law enforcement and the dangers they face out there,” said Col. Chris Wagner, New Hampshire State Police.